Brew cooling



May 22, 1945. G KEL 2,376,373

' K .1. 10 la BREW COOLING Filed July 26, 1940 2 "Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEYS y 22, 1945- F. G. MERCKEL ,376,373

BREW COOLING Filed July 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Ma 22, 1945 anew COOLING Frederick G. Merckel, Montclair, .1 asslgnor to Novadel-Agene Corporation, Newark, N. L, a corporation of Delaware Application July 26, 1940, Serial No. 347,654 7 Claims. '(01. 251-15) The present invention is concerned with the art of temperature conditioning, more particularly of liquids stored in dispensing containers and is more especially useful in cooling at the place of sale, of brew contained in transportation packages or kegs. 3

The invention has its major application tothe so-called' "Kooler Keg" system of the general type disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,051,013, issued August 11, 1936, to Herman E. Schulse,

as well as to various specific applications of the said "Kooler Keg" system, as for instance, that generally claimed in Reissue Patent No. 21,352, granted February 13, 1940, on application of John Panagopoulos, in all of which Kooler Keg systems the keg contents are internally cooled by thecirculation of cold water therethrough.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide an installation of the above type, involving an otherwise conventional keg construction of metal, single walled or double walled or of wood, with appurtenances easily incorporated or installed therein'for cooling the keg contents, and easily. connected in the cooling circuit, which appurtenances are of enhanced simplicity in constructiomoi reduced'cost'bulk and weight, devoid of yieldine; or flexible elements, oi such ruggedness as to withstand the severest mechanical shock to which beer trees are subjected in the course of transportation, which are compatible with the use of conventional equipment for sity oi taking part or opening the keg for that purpose.

In its essence, the invention involves the incorporation of one or more open nocketsdesirabl ducts thei'eat. ll. fiowgutide insert associated with the plug compels the cooling fluid to pass through suhstialiy the entire depth or length or the pocket on its way from the inlet to the outlet. Deslrahly the flow guide insert is carried by the closure and the inlet one outlet ducts extend cleaning, racking and tapping thelseg, and are easily inspected and repaired, without the neces eiiective volumetric content of the keg as well as in the strength of the upper head is thereby attained.

In the accompanying drawings-in which are shown one.or more of various possible embodi ments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view or a fragment of a cooling installation showing various alternative embodiments of inserts and a pair of kegs, each with one insert installed and another one in the course of installation,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale showing a part of the keg at the left of Fig, i,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the insert structure shown in Fig. 2, v

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of keg,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line t-t of Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale showing a part of the keg shown at the middle of Fig. 1, but soinewt modified,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l--'l of Fla. 6, Fig. 8 is a view similar to 6 showing a modification of the insert of Fig. 6 and showing the V installation in a wooden rather than a metal lies,

and

said closure at opposite sides of weld M Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 2, e and 8 oi a further modification.

In the. diagrammatic view of Fig. i, are shown the water mains it and ii encasedin heat lnsu lating conduit 52 as ordinarily fused in the Kooler Keg systei'n. Cooling liquid, preferably cold water, would be circulated through said pipes by a pump it submergedin a liquid cooling box it, the contents oiwhichjare kept slightly above the ireezi'ngpoint by a coil it through which the primarylreirigerant' is circulated by any suitable compression" unit 65. Flexible branch hose extend ih'pairsh'i and le from the respective mains. "i'heiree ends of said pairs of hose extend into on oohneotj to corresponding apertures in a closure, desirably a plug P. through one oi which the cooling fluid is propelled into a cavity in the keg hereinafter to be described andthrough the other of which the coolingliouicl leaves the keg.

flair two kegs is and K are iliustratlvely I keg K illustratively shown is used, it will be unshown actually installed in Fig. 1, although in practice a greater number might be connected as in the said Schulse patent. The keg has mounted in the wall thereof, preferably two or more separate and distinct pockets or shells S of metal or other good heat conductive material,

' which extend across nearly the entire keg interior,

and are submerged in the brew contained therein. Each pocket is hermetically sealed about the opening through which it is introduced as for instance in the upper head, thereby to prevent access of air to the brew contained in the keg,

rim of an aperture 68 with head, through which the pocket extends into the interior of the keg.

The plug p is desirably of rubber and has inserted therein the short tubes at and 22 over 'the protruding upper ends of which the branch hose ends it and 12. are telescoped. The plug also has amxed thereto a flow guide piece for the cooling fluid, designed to direct the same downward from the inlet hose branch h substantially the depth of the pocket, before it can return on its way to the outlet branch hose H.

In the particular embodiment illustratively shown in the keg of Figs. 1 and 2 and separately shown in the perspective view of Fig. 3, the how guidepiece is a baiile plate F of suitable metal or of plastic bonded or connected to the plug 39 with its width extending diametrically thereacross between the inlet and the outlet ducts 2i and 22. The baflle plate is preferably of width substantially equal to the bore diameter of the pocket 3 and is of length such as to extend nearly but not quite to the bottom wall 28 of said pocket. 4 In Fig. 1 the keg is illustratively shown with two pockets S afiixed in the upper head thereof and corresponding bafiie plates F are removably affixed therein. The plug 9' at the left in keg K is shown in place, while the plug p at the right is shown in the process of being applied. It will be seen that if the outer diameter of the pocketsis 2 /2 inches and their length 17 inches, the combined surface area of cooling metal of both of said pockets exposed to the contents of the filled 5 153 gallon keg is about 277 square inches.

The two pockets leave unobstructed the keg diameter through the racking hole 21 and the depth from the tapping aperture 28. Accordingly, the cooling pockets in nowise interfere with the cleaning, racking and tapping of the keg by use of conventional equipment for the purpose.

Where the single wall non-heat-insulated metal derstood that it desirablyis cooled within a. suitable heat insulating hood or cabinet (not shown), or alternatively the keg is kept in a cool room.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one of the cooling pockets 3 is near the tapping aperture 28 for more direct application of the cooling at the resion 0! the keg from which the brew is drawn. To apply additional refrigeration near the bottom of .the keg, a transverse cooling pocket 8'. similar to that already described may extend I6 asvasve across the lower part of the keg, near the draft tube.

In the diagrammatic view of Fig. l is illustrated in addition to the branch connections shown applied to keg K? a, further alternative set of conduit connections as incorporated in the fixed installation in the tap room and applied to keg K which is shown equipped with cooling pockets 3 identical with those of keg K. Each branch conduit pair H, H is affixed to a corresponding plug P as previously described. Here the single pair of branch conduits H and H may serve two or more cooling pockets, by attaching the inlet conduit H to the first one, the outlet conduit H to the last one and'using jumper connectors! to con nect the cooling attachment for series ilow.

Illustratively a difierent form of new guide insert F as more fully shown in Fig, 6 to be hereafter described is attached to plug P, to be inserted in the pockets of the keg to be cooled therefrom. There is also illustratively shown in Fig. 1 two pairs of branch connections each designated h and h each pair connected through a corresponding plug P. The flow guide insert I depending from each of said latter'plugs, is shown as a further embodiment hanging from the mains and ready to be introduced into a keg pocket. This embodiment is more fully detailed in Fig. 9

" to be hereafter described.

The operation may be briefly set forth. The brew being delivered to the tap room a keg permanently equipped with the empty ckets S submerged in the brew, is simply moved to the proper place at the cooling main and the respective flow guide inserts F, F or F as the case may be, depending from the cooling main structure 82 are simply inserted into the corresponding pockets S and the plugs p, P thereof are pushed home into the mouths of said pockets. When the cooks c in the respective branches are thereupon opened,

cooling fluid from the main in is passed into the respective pockets. In this action the cooling fluid passes downward through inlet 2| about the lower end of the flow guide insert of the pocket .(in keg K about bafile F), and thence upward 5 metal pocketssubmerged in the brew, the cooling is quite as efiective as in the Schulse Patent No. 2,051,013 but as previously set forth the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 affords further refrigeration especially near the bottom of the keg.

' After the keg has been drained, it is discon-' nected from the system by simply drawing out the plugs p or P and withdrawing the inserts, permitting them to hang in place -as shown at the right in Fig. 1. The keg when rolled into the 5 yard will automatically be drained of any cooling water or liquid remaining in the relatively large bore pockets S and such draining is promoted by the outwardly flaring mouth wall 33 of the pocket bore.

The cooling pocket of the keg being of structure substantially as rigid as that of the wall of the keg itself, and being rigidly and permanently a!- flxed in the keg, the same will withstand the se vere punishment to which it is ordinarily subiected in transportation to and from the brewery.

asvasvs The keg admits of being readily cleaned and pitched in the brewery by the'conventional equipment used there and can be readily racked and "tapped-since the pockets built into the keg are clear of the diameter through the conventional racking hole.

- flow guide insert need not be washed or cleaned,

as thewater or other cooling fluid circulating therethrough in the pocket can never come into contact with the brew.

The present arrangement effects economy in initial cost as compared with constructions in which the entire cooling conduit including an inlet and an outlet end or duct are built into the keg, !or the flow guide insert is a permanent part of the tap room installation; to be introduced into the pocket of the keg as the same is'placed on the cooling line, as distinguished from constructions in which such element'is built into each of the many thousands of kegs used by the brewery.

In Fig. 6 is shown an alternative embodiment of pocket structure S and of insert in a keg structure illustratively similar to that shown at S in Fig. 2. The pocket is here illustratively shown with a number of longitudinal fins 30 extending the height thereof and efiecting a great increase in the cooling surface area exposed to the brew and thereby enhancing the cooling efdcacy of the device. By this arrangement-a single pocket may be rendered almost as efficacious for cooling as two plain pockets of corresponding caliber. For

the insertion of the tube with its protruding flns,.

the aperture 31 through which the same is inserted in the keg, must be correspondingly larger than the aperture It! used in the embodiment of Fig. 2. Therefore, the rolled over bead 2'0 ofthe pocket structure is welded to a disk 32 which closes or seals the opening 3| andis welded thereto.

Illustratively the flow guide pieceji tubular, in form as shown at F. Preierablythe removable plug p of the insert accommodates the re-.

duced upper -end 350i the tubular flow guide which diverges as at 36 to a cylindrical tube 31 extending, as shown, to near the bottom of the pocket. Desirably the tube 31 is of cross-sectional keg walls and, therefore, also double walled. A:

end or said tube.

stance, the insert plug 1) is to be removed, the check valve 40 will cause the contents of tube 31 to be trapped and withdrawn with the plug, so that less water or cooling fluid will remain to be discarded from the pocket S In the embodiment of Fig. 9 is shown the application of the pocket illustratively shown at S to a keg K of the double walled metal type. The general construction of this keg is well known and embraces briefly an inner keg wall spaced by spacer rings 46 from an outer keg wall 4' l. The heads are parts of the respective inner and outer bushing is preferably incorporated between the two walls of the'upper head 50 and welded in place therein as shown, and it presents a threaded opening 5| into which is removably amxed the threaded enlarged ri-m 52 .of the pocket 8 The insert F shown in Fig. 9 comprises a tube 55 of diameter not much smaller than that oi. the pocket 8.. structure 55 thereabout, which snugly fits the inner wall of the pocket 8 and aflords a long circuitous path for the flow of cooling fluid between the pocket and-the insert. Desirably and preferably the rib 55 is helical in form as shown. The bore 55 is fixed in the removable plug P, which has an inlet tube 51 therethrough communicating at 55 with the outside of the tube 55 between consecutive convoluticns of the rib 56 near the upper The outlet tube 59 o municates directly with bore 55 of .the insrt. It will immediately be clear that in operatio the coollng fluid is circulated through pipe 57 to enter and lodged in acage 63.- It will be seen that in a the withdrawal of the removable insert from the empty keg, the check valve 80 will trap the major 60 at the lower end of thetube 55. This'check' valve is illustratively shown of the poppet type, afl'ording a stem 6i encircled by coil spring 62 portion of .the wateror other fluid cooling conarea about half that of the interior of pocket 8', so that the rate oi flow of cooling fluid through the tube 81 is about the same as that of the return about the tube through the pocket 8'. i

In Fig. 8 is shown illustratively the mode of application of the pocket S to a wooden keg K T0 thatend the head or the keg is provided with a threaded bushing 38 rolled thereover east 39 and the mouth 38' of the pocket SF hasa slightly thickened .wall which is threaded as shown for secure liquid-tight fit.. 1 j

In Fig. 8 there is also illustratively shown a check valve #0 near the bottom of the flow guide tube F, which latter is of the same generalconstruction as that of Fig. 6. Valve 40 is linked at v 4| to the side of the tube 31. The valve readily opens in operation 01' the system, the cooling fluid entering through the port 42 in the plug P and leaving by wayof insert tube 31 through pipe 43.

tents of the pocket S irom the possible wetting of the floor with the water or other fluid remaining in the pockets.

The various pockets are sufliciently large and accessible to admit of ease or inspection for leakforeign matter such as'tax stamps or labels which occasionally enter exposed cavities as pointed out in the Schulse patent above identified- Removal of the pocket for replacement is relatively easy pocket need merely be severeii at its mouth by a welding torch, the remaining rim being then ground 01!, whereupon a new pocket may be readily introduced and welded in place.

In each of the embodiments of insert, it is noted that the insert tube or baille constitutes a wall structure which subdivides the cross-section of the pocket into two compartments substantially closed from each other, except near the bottom or the pocket where the compartments when, after the, keg has been drained for inu are connected in series. 5

Accordingly, when the empty keg is removed, there is less annoyance This tube 55 is provided with a rib age. or other possible damage, and removal of a asvae'ra more pockets could be used to advantage. Where three pockets are used, approximately the same total surface area of pocket contacting the brew (i. e., 245 square inches) would be attained if the outer diameter of each pocket were but one and a half (1 inch instead of 2 inches. In that event,, the approximate displacement of three 1 /2 inch pockets would be about three pints while that of two 2 /2 inch pockets is about three quarts. Moreover, the total area of the three holes in the keg head to accommodate the pockets would be 5.1 square inches instead of 9.8 square inches and the weakening of the keg head due I the cooling circuit. :1

It will of course be evident that the invention lends itself to installation for as many kegs as are desired, that kegs of various types may be used on one and the same line, that flow guide .inserts F, F, F of one and the same type or of various types may be used conveniently on one and the same system.

While the invention has been shown in an embodiment in which the brew faucets are adjacent the kegs, it is understood that it is also tight pockets extending through and sealing cor-v responding apertures in the wall of saidpackage and across substantially the entire interior thereof and in direct contact with the brew contents,

closure means removably mounted in the mouths.

of said pockets, each of said pockets having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom for cooling fluid, and fluid guide members associated with the respective closures and extending into the respective pockets, substantially to direct the cooling fluid to traverse the length of each pocket along and in contact with the inner wall thereof on its way from the inlet to the outlet thereof.

3.. In a brew cooling installation, the combination or a keg having a columnar beat conducting cooling pocket affixed at its mouth at a. corresponding opening in the upper head and having a closed bottom near the lower head thereof, said pocket affording a liquid-tight closure at said opening for the contents of the keg, a removable closure for said pocket having an inlet and an outlet therethrough for cooling fluid, said closure having a wall structure aifixed thereto, extending nearly the height of said pocket and sub-dividing the cross-section thereof into two compartments substantially closed from each other throughout the length of said insert and in communication with each other substantially only about the inner extremity of said wall structure.

4. In a brew cooling installation, the combination of a keg having one or more cooling pockets applicable to installations in which the'faucet is remote from the keg and the length of brew line to the faucet is enclosed in a conduit with cooling fluid circulating therethrough, and of general type disclosed and claimed in Reissue Patent No. 21,352, granted February 13, 1940, on application of John Panagopoulos.

As many changes could be made in the above -construction and many apparently widely diiier- Patent is;

1. The combination of a brew cooling transportation package, having a plurality of fluid tight pockets extending through and sealing corresponding apertures in the wall of said package, with closure means removably mounted in the mouths of said pockets, each of said closure means having an inlet and outlet therethrough {or cooling fluid and fluid guide means associated with each of said closure means.

2. In a, system for cooling the" contents of a transportation brew package, a plurality of fluid posite end of the pocket on its way to the outlet. I 5. The combination recited inclalm 1 in which the fluid guide means comprises a baffle plate a the fluid guide means comprises a tube carried by ailixed at the respective mouths thereof to and sealing a corresponding aperture in the upper head, and extending downward therefrom into the contents of the keg to near the bottom thereof,.each of said pockets having a removable plug therein with an inlet and an outlet for cooling fluid to be circulated through the corresponding pocket, each of said plugs having a member carried thereby and extending nearly the height of the pocket and serving to direct substantially all of the cooling fluid through the inlet to the opcarried by the closure means, disposed between the inlet and the outlet and extending substantially entirely along the pocket to near the closed end thereof.

6. The combination recited in claim 1 in which the flow guide means is a tubular conduit having 'a volumetric capacity in the order of a substantial fraction of the capacity of the pocket, and a check valve atth'e lower end of said tubular conduit serves to trap cooling fluid therein for withdrawal thereof with said insert.

7. The combination recited in claim 1 in which said closure means at the outlet therethrough and flares to a bore along the main length there'- of of substantially one-half the cross-section of I the pocket, and near its lower end has a check valve.

FREDERICK G. MERCKEL. 

